Gov. Bobby Jindal wants to cancel pay raises for rank-and-file state employees as part of efforts to balance the budget in the fiscal year that begins July 1. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater has asked the state Civil Service Commission to approve suspension of state agencies’ authority to award pay increases to nearly 56,000 workers. If approved, it would mark the second consecutive year that classified employees would not get the annual 4% pay bump given those who qualify, based on job evaluations. Nearly all employees receive the pay increase on the anniversary date of their employment. Rainwater said the move would save $55 million for the state, which faces a $1.6 billion budget shortfall. Rainwater says administration will not budget money for similar pay raises for some 30,000 higher-paid, unclassified employees, those who are subject to hiring and firing at will.
Today’s poll question: Do you think state workers should get a 4% annual raise in the upcoming fiscal year?
